Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 524: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there has been an increase in the Government fuel levy; and the amount this additional revenue is expected to generate. [28391/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to the recent increase in the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) levy. NORA is a statutory agency under the aegis of my Department and has responsibility for ensuring that Ireland meets its EU and International obligations to maintain reserves of national strategic oil stocks. The NORA levy is imposed on the consumption of oil products and is used to fund NORA's activities. NORA receives no Exchequer funding. The level of the NORA levy remained unchanged at 0.476 cent per litre from NORA's establishment in 1995 until 31 October 2007.

Earlier this year, I made Regulations under the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007, which provide that with effect from 1 November 2007, the rate of the levy rises to 1.00 cent per litre. Under the previous arrangements, the NORA levy generated income of €37 million in 2006. Based on the 2006 levy income the increased levy could be expected to generate an additional €40 million per annum. This will allow NORA to maintain and increase the level of strategic oil stocks held by NORA in line with EU and International obligations. It will also underpin the Government's objective as set out in the White Paper, to maximise Ireland's wholly-owned stocks of oil and the level of stocks held on this island.